“Doing” arts therapy with young infants and parents to address mental health and wellbeing
with Infant & Child Psychotherapist, and Arts Therapist Dr Emma van Daal
Discover how arts therapy supports infant development and wellbeing!
Dr Emma is passionate about elevating creative practice as a vital component of infant development that needs to be nurtured to the same degree as all other areas of development. The arts create much needed opportunities for young children to give voice to their experiences, thoughts, and feelings as well as support healing from early life trauma and developmental disruption. The therapeutic arts enable infants to participate as equal therapeutic agents sharing their infinite wisdom and insights with their caregivers.
Here’s what you’ll learn
Theory, ethics, and techniques
Become oriented to the underpinning theories and values of art therapy and infant mental health.
Evidence & practice-based
Learn what is helpful, healing, and supports the lived experience of infants and their parents.
But babies can’t draw!
Using examples from practice, understand what art-making looks like in the early years and best practice tips.
About Dr Emma van Daal
Dr Emma is an experienced Infant Mental Health Consultant, Child Psychotherapist, and Arts Therapist who established the Centre for Infant Wellbeing to promote the role of creative, play, and relational practices urgently needed to elevate the voices of infants and nuance understanding of infant and parent wellbeing. She is the founder of the organisation, the Infant and Perinatal Engagement in Arts and Creative Health collective with multiple publications including the forthcoming book, Posthumanist possibilities for parent and infant mental health’ co-edited with Dr Ariel Moy.